Electric control for timer



Aug. 9, 1960 G. .|.YDEKAN ELECTRIC CONTROL. FoR TIMER Filed June 25.1957 United States Patent O ELECTRIC CONTROL EoR TIMER George J. Dekan,Glen Ellyn, Ill., assignor of one-half to Ward Miller, Glen Ellyn, Ill.

Filed June 25, 1957, Ser. No. 667,857

14 Claims. (Cl. 324-70) This invention relates generally to controlsystems for timers, and more specifically to an improved controlarrangement for an electric timer of the type used in timing athleticruns such as those in track and lield events.

Because of the substantial errors that generally result when a personattempts to directly operate a timer for some athletic event, manyattempts have been made to produce control arrangements for the timerswhich will remove the human element thereby providing for more accuracyin timing. These timers are often electrically operated, and in thepresent state of the art, are highly eilicient and accurate. To furtherstate the problem that arises in the use of these timers, it isnecessary to start the timer at the exact instant that the athleticevent begins, and, while recording elapsed time, to stop the timer atthe exact instant or instants when some portion or portions of theathletic event are completed. Arrangements presently known in the artsolve this problem in many different ways, however, the commondisadvantages of these arrangements are their high cost, complexityrequiring trained personnel, and lack of versatility.

The object of the present invention is to provide a control arrangementfor a timer overcoming each of the above noted disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention isto provide a highly versatilecontrol arrangement for an electric timer for timing athletic events.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in an arrangementas noted above certain means for automatically signaling the start of arace and accurately timing only the starting portion of the race.

A further object of the present invention is `to provide means in aconstruction such as that of the preceding paragraph whereby the athleteis prevented from anticipating the starting signal.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a constructionsuch as that described in the preceding paragraphs with means whereby anathlete may himself initiate the operation of the invention to provide astarting signal, start the timer, and stop the timer after any elapsedportion of his run.

In addition to the previous objects, it is further the object of thisinvention to provide means with constructions such as described abovefor permitting the starting of the timer with the operation of astarting gun.

Other objects and the features of the present invention will be apparentupon a perusal of the following specification and drawing: Figure 1shows a use of the present invention by a runner to initiate theoperation of the invention, to provide himself with a starting signal,with the invention automatically timing the rst portion or startingportion of his race; and Figure 2. is a circuit diagram of the presentinvention.

The present embodiment is the preferred embodiment, but it is to beunderstood that changes can be made in the present embodiment by oneskilled in the art without ICE departing from the spirit and scope ofthe present in- Vention.

To generally describe the present invention, the various elements shownin Figure 2 are mounted in any suitable cabinet. A power source 10,which may be a -volt power line, or some other suitable power pack,provides power for operation of the instant invention. The timer 20 isan electrical timer having a suitable dial registering elapsed time, andcomprises a continuously running motor, and a clutch arrangement whichwhen engaged or operated causes the motor to operate the dial of thetimer. A number of signal lamps 15 and 25 are included to indicate theproper operation of the invention. Various elements of the invention maybe remotely located from the main cabinet. In other words, any of thesignal lamps 15 and 25 may be remotely positioned, the timer dial oftimer 20 may be remotely located, the various operating switches may bemounted either on the cabinet or at some remote location, and variousones of the switches may be provided in duplicate with parallelconnections with some of the switches being located on the cabinet andwith others being located at some remote position.

Turning next to a detailed description of the present invention,reference is first made to Figure 2. The ground side of the power source10 is connected to conductor 11. The other side of the power source 10is connected :to one side of an on-oif switch 13 through conductor 12.The other side of the switch 13 is connected to conductor 14. Signallamp 15 is connected between conductor 11 and conductor 14. Conductor 14is also connected in par. allel to conductors 16 and 17. Conductor 17 isconnected in parallel -to conductor 18 and one side of the motorconnection for the timer 20. Conductor 11 is connected to conductor 31,and the other side of the motor connection for the timer 20 is connectedto conductor 31 through conductors 21 and 4l). Conductor 18 is connectedto one side of the primary of a step-down transformer 19, and the other`side of the primary of the transformer 19 is connected to conductor 40.The secondary of the transformer 19 is connected to conductors 24 and26. The signal lamp 25 is connected between conductor 26 and ground.Conductor 26 is connected to one side of each of a pair of gangedswitches 41 and 42. Conductor 24 is connected to one side of each of apair of switches 23 and 43. The other side of each of the switches 23and 43 are connected to ground through conductor 22.

Three relays 34, 44 and 29 are used in the present embodiment. One sideof the coil of relay 34 is connected to ground through conductor 45. Theother side of the coil of relay 34 is connected to conductor 36.Conductor 36 is connected to one side of a switch 32. One side of therelaycontacts 39 of armature 33 of relay 34 is connected to conductor36. The armature 33 of relay 34 is connected to conductor 35 which inturn is connected to the other side of the switch 32. In addition torelay contacts 39 which are normally open, relay 34 is further providedwith armature 38 and a set of normally open contacts 37. One side of therelay contacts 37 is connected to conductor 16. The armature 38 of relay34 is connected through conductor 46 to one side of a rectier 47 whichmay be of any suitable selenium or copper oxide type rectifying thealternating current of the power source 10 to a pulsating directcurrent. The other side of the rectifier 47 is connected to a resistor48 and the other side of the resistor 48 is connected to one end of theresistance of a potentiometer 49. The movable arm of the potentiometer49 is also connected to the junction of resistance 48 and resistance ofthe potentiometer 49. The other side of the resistance of thepotentiometer 49 is connected to conductor 50. Conductor 50 is connectedto one`side of a condenser 51, to one side of the coil of relay 44through conductor 52, and to armature 3 53 of relay 29. The other sideof the condenser 51 is connected to conductor 31. Condenser 51 incooperation with rectifier 47, resistor 48 and potentiometer 49 forms atime delay circuit, the operation of which will be described below.

The other side of the coil of relay 44 is connected to conductor 31through conductor 54. Relay 44 comprises two sets of normally opencontacts 55 and 56 respectively associated with armatures 57 and 58. Thearmatures 57 and 57 are both connected to conductor S9, which in turn isconnected to conductor 27. Conductor 27 is connected between conductor26 and armature 28 of relay 29. The contact of relay contacts 55opposite form the armature 57 is connected to conductor 60. Conductor 60is connected to the other side of the switch 42 opposite from thatpreviously noted as connected to conductor 26. The contact of the relaycontacts 56 opposite from armature 58 is connected to conductor 61.Conductor 61 is connected to conductor 62. One end of conductor 62 isconnected to conductor 63, and the other end of conductor 62 isconnected to one of the contacts of relay contacts 64 of relay 29.

Relay 29 comprises two armatures 28 and 53, with armature 28 associatedwith normally closed contacts 30 and normally open contacts 64, and witharmature 53 associated with normally open contacts 65. One side of thecoil of relay 29 is connected to conductor 62 and the other side of thecoil is connected to ground through conductor 66. The contact ofnormally closed contacts 30 opposite from the armature 28 is connectedto conductor 35. The armature 28 has previously been noted as connectedto conductor 27. The contact of normally open contacts 65 opposite fromarmature 53 is connected to one end of a resistor 67 and the other endof resistor 67 is connected to conductor 31. The armature 53 of relay 29was previously noted as connected to conductor 50. Conductor 63 to whichconductor 62 was previously noted as connected, is connected at one endthereof to one side of the clutch of the timer 20. The other side of theclutch of the timer 20 is connected to ground through conductor 69. Theother end of conductor 63 is connected to the other side of switch 41opposite from that previously noted as connected to conductor 26.

The bell or sounder 70 may be of any suitable type known in the art, andone side thereof is connected to conductor 60 through conductor 71. Theother side of the sounder 70 is connected to ground through conductor72.

An additional switch 73 is connected across switch 41 by means ofconductors 74 and 75.

Turning next to a detailed description of the various operations of theinstant invention reference is again made to the drawing. Initiallyswitch 13 is closed. Lamp 15 is then illuminated over an obviouscircuit. The following circuit for the energization of the motor of thetimer 20 is also completed: from conductor 11, power source 10,conductor 12, switch 13, conductor 14, conductor 17, the motor of timer20, conductor 21, conductor 40, and conductor 31 to conductor 11. Thusthe motor of the timer 20 will begin to operate. No operation of thetiming dial will take place until the clutch of the timer 20 isenergized. The primary of the transformer 19 which is connected parallelwith the motor of the timer 20 is also energized at this time. At thispoint let it be assumed that switch 23, the Line Stop switch, is closed.The following circuit is then complete for lamp 25: from ground, throughlamp 25, conductor 26, the secondary f transformer 19, conductor 24,switch 23, conductor 22 to ground. Thus lamp 25 will be illurninated.

If the Automatic Start or Get Set switch 32 is then closed, thefollowing circuit for the energization of relay 34 is completed; fromground, conductor 45, the coil of relay 34, conductor 36, switch 32,conductor 35, contacts 30 of relay 29, armature 28 of relay 29,conductor 27, conductor 26, the secondary of transformer 19, conductor24, switch 23, conductor 22 to ground. The switch 32 need only bemomentarily closed since upon the energization of relay 34, contacts 37and 39 will be closed, and the closing of contacts 39 will complete ashunt circuit about switch 32 to lock up the relay 34. This shuntcircuit extends from the coil of relay 34, through contacts 39, armature33 of relay 34, and conductor 35 to contacts 30 of relay 29. The closingof contacts 37 of relay 34 completes the following circuit for theenergization of relay 44: from the coil of relay 44, conductor 52,conductor 50, through the time delay circuit comprising condenser 51,potentiometer 49, resistor 48, rectifier 47, and then through conductor46, armature 38 and contacts 37 of relay 34, conductor 16, conductor 14,switch 13, conductor 12, power source 10, conductor 11, conductor 31,conductor 54 to the coil of relay 44. By varying the amount of theresistance of the potentiometer 49 which is shunted by its movable arm,the time necessary to charge condenser 51 sul'lciently to provide asuitable operating voltage across the coil of relay 44 may be varied.When a sufficient voltage is developed across the coil of relay 44,relay 44 will operate to close its contacts 55 and 56.

The closing of contacts 55 completes the following circuit for theenergization of the bell or sounder 70: from ground, conductor 72,sounder 70, conductor 71, conductor 60, contacts 55 and armature 57 ofrelay 44, conductor 59, conductor 27, conductor 26, secondary oftransformer 19, conductor 24, switch 23, conductor 22 to ground.

The closing of contacts 56 of relay 44 completes the following circuitfor the operation of the clutch of the timer 20: from ground, conductor69, the clutch ,of the timer 20, conductor 63, conductor 62, conductor61, contacts 56 and armature 58 of relay 44, conductor 59, conductor 27,conductor 26, the secondary of the transformer 19, conductor 24, switch23, conductor 22 to ground. Thus it may be seen that with the operationof relay 44, the sounder 70 is operated simultaneously with theoperation of the clutch of the timer 20, and the timer will begin torecord lapsed time on its dial.

The closing of contacts 56 also completes the follow- Ving circuit forthe energization of relay 29: from ground, conductor 66, the coil ofrelay 29, conductor 62, conductor 61, contacts 56 and armature 58 ofrelay 44, conductor 59, conductor 27, conductor 26, secondary oftransformer 19, conductor 24, switch 23, conductor 22 to ground. Relay29 will then operate closing contacts 64 and 65 and opening contacts 30.The opening of contacts 30 will break the previously described lockingcircuit for relay 34 and relay 34 will then restore, opening itscontacts 37 and 39. With contacts 37 open, the previously describedcircuit for the energization of relay 44 is opened.

The closing of contacts 65 completes the following circuit therebyshunting the coil of relay 44; conductor 52, conductor 50, armature 53and contacts 65 of relay 29, resistor 67, conductor 31, conductor 54 tothe coil of relay 44. Because of the charge on condenser 51, relay 44will not immediately restore to open its contacts 55 and 56. The timenecessary for the restoring of relay 44 to open contacts 55 and 56 willbe dependent upon the resistance of the coil 44, theresistance value ofresistor 67 and the charge on condenser 51. When relay 44 does restoreafter a short period of time to open c011- tacts 5S and 56, the openingof contacts 55 will break the previously described circuit for theoperation of the sounder 70 and the sounder 70 will cease operation.Although contacts 56 of relay 44 previously completed the circuit forthe operation of the clutch of the timer 20, the closing of contacts 64of relay 29 completes the following alternate circuit to hold the clutchof the timer 20 operated: from ground, conductor 69, the clutch of timer20, conductor 63, conductor 62, contacts 64 and armature 28 of relay 29,conductor-27, conductor 26, secondary of transformer 19, conductor 24,switch 23, conductor 22 to ground. The closing of contacts 64 alsocompletes the following circuit for maintaining relay 29 operated: fromground, conductor 66, the coil of relay 29, conductor 62, contacts 64and armature 28 of relay 29, conductor 27, conductor 26, the secondaryof transformer 19, conductor 24, switch 23, conductor 22 to ground. Thusit may be seen that at this point relays 34 and 44 are restored, thesounder 70 is not operated, and the timer 20 continues to operate torecord the elapsed time.

To stop the timer 20 from recording elapsed time, it is merely necessaryto open switch 23. The opening of switch 23 will break the previouslydescribed circuits holding the clutch of the timer 20 and the relay 29operated. Relay 29 will restore opening its contacts 64 and 65 andclosing contacts 30, and the timer 20 will cease recording elapsed time.The lamp 25 will also be extinguished.

The previously described operations may be easily applied to situationssuch as shown in Figure 1. If the Automatic Start or Get Set switch 32is remotely located as a push button assembly 76 at the starting blocksof a runner, and if the line stop switch 23 is closed and has a exibleline 77 extending therefrom to the body of the runner, the runner maythen upon his own initiative close switch 13 to initially energize thesubject invention and set the movable arm of the potentiometer *49 atsome suitable position. The position of the movable arm 49 may begraduated in seconds or fractions thereof or some entirely haphazardmeans may be used for setting the potentiometer 49. The runner wouldthen place himself at the starting blocks and when preliminarilyprepared would momentarily operate push button assembly 76, therebymomentarily closing switch 32. Immediately thereafter the runner wouldget set in preparation of starting a run and after a time intervaldetermined by the setting of potentiometer 49, the subject inventionwill automatically operate as previously described to operate the bellor sounder 70 for a short period of time and start the recording ofelapsed time by operation of timer 20. The runner would then begin torun. When the line 77, connected from the runner to switch 23, wasstretched out to its full length, the switch 23 would be opened by line77 to stop the timer 20. With the line 77 connected between the runnerand the switch 23 of a measured length, the timer will show the elapsedtime from the initial operation of the sounder 70 to the time at whichthe runner reached the end of the measured length of line 77. Thisfeature of the present invention is very important in that it permitsthe athlete to practice proper starting of a run over and over withoutthe necessity for any control of the timing mechanism by any personother than the athlete himself by providing an accurate timing of theathletes start. A number of other well known means which are runneroperated may be used to open switch 23. With the various possiblesettings of the potentiometer 49, the time between the initial operationof switch 32 and the time at which the sounder 70 is operated may bevaried to prevent the athlete from anticipating the operation of thesounder '70. Although the operation of the timer has been described asceasing upon the opening of the Line Stop switch 23, the Stop switch 43which may be mounted on the cabinet may be used in place of the LineStop switch 23. If the Stop switch 43 is to be used, the Line Stop 23 isopened and the Stop switch 43 is initially closed. Upon the operation ofthe timer 20, the switch 43 may be opened at any time to stop therecording of elapsed time.

If it is desired to start a race with the ring of a gun rather than withthe sounder 70 the Gun Start switch 73 is associated with the startinggun in anysuitable manner known in the art whereby the Gun Start switch73 will be closed upon the firing of the gun. When the gun is iired, andswitch 73 is closed, the following circuit for the energization of theclutch of the timer 20 is completed: from ground, conductor 69, clutchof the timer 20, conductor 63, conductor 74, switch 73, conductor 75,conductor 26, secondary of transformer 19, conductor 24, and either LineStop switch 23 or Stop switch 43 to conductor 22 and ground. Aspreviously described, the timer 20 is stopped by the opening of eitherLine Stop switch 23 or Stop switch 43, depending upon which one wasinitially closed.

A racc may be additionally started by the momentary closing of theganged switches 41 and 42. The closing of switch 41 completes thefollowing circuit for the operation of the clutch of the timer 20: fromground, conductor 69, the clutch of the timer 20, conductor 63, switch41, conductor 26, the secondary of transformer 19, conductor 24, andeither switch 23 or 43 to conductor 22 and ground. Simultaneously theclosing of switch 42 completes the following circuit for the operationof the sounder 70:` from ground, conductor 72, sounder 70, conductor 71,conductor 60, switch 42, conductor 26, secondary of transformer 19,conductor 24, and either switch 23 or 43 to conductor 22 and ground.Thus it may be seen that simultaneously the sounder 70 is operated andthe timer 20` begins to record elapsed time. As previously described,the timer 20 is stopped by the opening of either switch 23 or 43depending upon which one had been previously closed.

From the foregoing it is apparent that in addition to the variouspossible operations described above, many others may be made dependentof the particular requirements of some race.

Having described the invention what is considered new and desired to beprotected by Letters Patent, is:

1. A control arrangement for an electric timer comprising a source ofpower, electrically operated signaling means, relay means including acondenser for connecting said source of power to said electric timer andto said electrically operated signaling means, said relay means beingformed to operate responsive to a momentary `energization thereof, saidcondenser being connected in said relay means to delay the operationthereof lfor a certain time interval after the initial energization ofsaid relay means, yand second relay means operating responsive to theoperation of said first relay means for disabling said electricallyoperated signaling means after a short period of time and for continuingthe connection of said source of power to said electric timer.

2. In a control arrangement for an electrical timer, a power source,electrically operated signaling means, second relay means operable tosimultaneously connect said power source to said timer and to saidsignaling means for operation thereof, third relay means operable torestore said second relay means after a relatively short time intervalso that s-aid signaling means is resto-red and to complete `a circuitmaintaining said power source connected to said timer for continuingoperation thereof, manually operable and restorable means operable tosimultaneously connect said power source to said timer and to saidIsignaling means independent of said second relay means Ifor initialoperation thereof and to operate said third -relay means to completesaid circuit maintaining said power source connected to said timer forcontinuing operation thereof when said manually operable and restorablemeans is restored so that only said signaling means is restored whensaid manually operable and restorable means is restored.

3. In a control arrangement for an electrical timer as claimed in claim2, wherein said second and third relay means and said manually operableand restorable means includes la switch operable to restore said thirdrelay means and disconnect said power source from said timer.

4. In a control arrangement for Aan electrical timer as as claimed inclaim 2, wherein said manually operable and restorable means includes amanually operable switch operable to initially connect said power sourceto said timer and to operate said third relay means.

5. In a control arrangement for an electrical timer as claimed in claim2, wherein said manually operable and restorable means comprises a pairof ganged manually operable switches, one of said switches beingconnected to initially connect said power source to said timer and tooperate said third relay means responsive to an operation thereof, theother of said switches being formed to connect said power source to saidsignaling means responsive to an operation thereof.

6. In a control arrangement for an electrical timer as claimed in claim2, wherein manually operable rst relay means is provided for operatingsaid second relay means a certain time interval after the initialoperation of said first relay means.

7. In a control arrangement for an electrical timer as claimed in claim4, wherein a gun switch is connected in shunt of said manually operableswitch, said gun switch operable to momentarily complete said shuntresponsive to the tiring of a gun,

8. In a control arrangement for an electrical timer as claimed in claim6, wherein said rst relay means includes means for varying the length ofsaid certain time interval.

9. In a control arrangement for an electrical timer, a power source,electrically operated signaling means, a first relay means, a secondrelay means, a third relay means, means for momentarily operating saidirst relay means, said first relay means operating to complete a circuitfor the operation of said second relay means and completing a lockingcircuit for maintaining said irst relay means operated, said secondrelay means operable to simultaneously initially connect said powersource to said electrically operated signaling means and to said timerfor operations thereof and to complete a circuit for the operation ofsaid third -relay means, said third relay means operable to open saidlocking circuit for said first relay means so that said rst and secondrelay means land said signaling means restore and for simultaneouslycompleting a circuit for maintaining said power source connected to saidtimer.

10. A control arrangement for an electric timer comprising a source ofpower, electrically operated signalling means, second relay meansoperable to connect said source of power to said electric timer and tosaid electrically operated signalling means to begin the operationsthereof, first relay means for operating said second relay means,manually operable means -for operating said rst relay means, and a timedelay circuit for delaying the operation of said second relay means acertain period of 8 time, said time delay circuit comprising a condenserconnected to said second relay means to delay the operation thereofuntil said condenser is charged and a variable resistor connected tosaid condenser and said first relay means to charge said condenserresponsive to the operation of said first relay means.

ll. In a control arrangement as claimed in claim 10 wherein third relaymeans is provided operating responsive to the operation of said secondrelay means for disabling -said electrically operated signalling meansafter a short interval of time and continuing-the connection of saidsource of power to said electric timer.

12. In a control arrangement for an electric timer, a power source,electrically operated signalling means, manually operable circuit meansfor connecting said power source to said timer and to said signallingmeans for simultaneous operation thereof, means operating responsive tothe operation of said circuit means for restoring said signaling meansafter a certain interval of time and continuing the connection of saidpower source to said timer, said circuit means including a line switchoperable to disable said circuit means to disconnect said power sourcefrom said timer, said line switch comprising a line connectable at oneend thereof to a runner and at the other end thereof to a switch foroperation of said switch by said runner by pulling on said line.

13. In a control arrangement for an electric timer as claimed in claiml2 wherein said manually operable cirr cuit means includes a time delaycircuit operating re- References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1,731,182 Streeter Oct. 8, 1929 1,950,273 Speakrnan Mar.6, 1934 2,478,482 Harris Aug. 9, 1949 2,550,915 Curran May 1, 19512,783,836 Kenline Mar. 5, 1957 2,784,355 Suchtelen Mar. 5, 19572,787,738 Hisle Apr. 2, 1957

